Ranking Washington's biggest cities: Immigration, diversity and more

BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 10:43 pm, Monday, October 8, 2012

USA: Across the country, 13 percent of residents were born elsewhere. Take a look at how Washington, King County and the state’s largest cities compare. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
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King County: 20.8 percent of King County residents were born outside the United States. Take a look at how Washington’s largest cities compare, from least to most immigrant-accepting. The facts may come as a surprise. (Photo by Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)
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King County: 20.8 percent of King County residents were born...

14: Spokane Valley: 6.1 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by Atomic Taco/Flickr)
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14: Spokane Valley: 6.1 percent of this city’s residents were...

13. Spokane: 8.1 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by hawleyjr/Flickr)
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13. Spokane: 8.1 percent of this city’s residents were born...

12. Kennewick: 8.7 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by L p/Flickr)
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12. Kennewick: 8.7 percent of this city’s residents were born...

11. Bellingham: 10.9 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by ocad123/Flickr)
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11. Bellingham: 10.9 percent of this city’s residents were born...

10. Vancouver: 11.9 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by Leslie Veen/Flickr)
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10. Vancouver: 11.9 percent of this city’s residents were born...

9. Tacoma: 15 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by ShawnHenning/Flickr)
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9. Tacoma: 15 percent of this city’s residents were born outside...

8. Everett: 17.4 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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8. Everett: 17.4 percent of this city’s residents were born...

7. Auburn: 18.8 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Digital Collections and Content/Flickr)
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7. Auburn: 18.8 percent of this city’s residents were born...

6. Seattle: 19.2 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by Kashyap_hc/Flickr)
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6. Seattle: 19.2 percent of this city’s residents were born...

5. Yakima: 19.7 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by grant_loy/Flickr)
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5. Yakima: 19.7 percent of this city’s residents were born...

4. Renton: 22.2 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by pasa47/Flickr)
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4. Renton: 22.2 percent of this city’s residents were born...

3. Federal Way: 24.3 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by SheldonPhotography/Flickr)
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3. Federal Way: 24.3 percent of this city’s residents were born...

2. Kent: 27.4 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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2. Kent: 27.4 percent of this city’s residents were born outside...

1. Bellevue: 33.1 percent of this city’s residents were born outside the United States. (Photo by Wonderlane/Flickr)
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1. Bellevue: 33.1 percent of this city’s residents were born...

USA: Nationally, non-white people account for 36.7 percent of the population. Take a look at how Washington, King County and the state’s largest cities compare. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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USA: Nationally, non-white people account for 36.7 percent of the...

Washington: 28.1 percent of the state’s population is not white. (Photo by Robert Sumner/Getty Images)
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Washington: 28.1 percent of the state’s population is not white....

King County: 35.7 percent of King County residents are not white. Take a look at how the state’s largest cities compare, from least to most diverse. (Photo of Flaming Geyser State Park by La. Catholique/Flickr)
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King County: 35.7 percent of King County residents are not white....

13. Spokane: 15.9 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by hugh millward/Flickr)
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13. Spokane: 15.9 percent of this city’s residents described...

12. Bellingham: 18.3 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by iwona_kellie/Flickr)
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12. Bellingham: 18.3 percent of this city’s residents described...

11. Vancouver: 24.1 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by born1945/Flickr)
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11. Vancouver: 24.1 percent of this city’s residents described...

10. Everett: 31.6 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by hj_west/Flickr)
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10. Everett: 31.6 percent of this city’s residents described...

9. Kennewick: 32.5 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by theslowlane/Flickr)
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9. Kennewick: 32.5 percent of this city’s residents described...

8. Seattle: 34.1 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by U.S. Navy/Flickr)
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8. Seattle: 34.1 percent of this city’s residents described...

7. Auburn: 36.1 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Digital Collections and Content/Flickr)
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7. Auburn: 36.1 percent of this city’s residents described...

6. Bellevue: 36.9 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by Wonderland/Flickr)
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6. Bellevue: 36.9 percent of this city’s residents described...

5. Tacoma: 40.7 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by pfly/Flickr)
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5. Tacoma: 40.7 percent of this city’s residents described...

4. Federal Way: 46.7 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by Atomic Taco/Flickr)
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4. Federal Way: 46.7 percent of this city’s residents described...

3. Yakima: 47.5 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by theslowlane/Flickr)
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3. Yakima: 47.5 percent of this city’s residents described...

2. Renton: 48.7 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. (Photo by Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)
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2. Renton: 48.7 percent of this city’s residents described...

1. Kent: 52.2 percent of this city’s residents described themselves as Hispanic or a race other than white. Kent appears to be the state’s first and only large majority minority city. (Photo by joshua_putnam/Flickr)
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1. Kent: 52.2 percent of this city’s residents described...

USA: The median age in the United States in 37.3 years old. Take a look at how Washington, King County and the state’s largest cities compare. (Photo by ROBERT GIROUX/AFP/Getty Images)
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USA: The median age in the United States in 37.3 years old. Take a...

Washington: 37.3 is the median age in the state, exactly the national average. (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Washington: 37.3 is the median age in the state, exactly the...

King County: The median age of King County residents is 37.1 years old. Now take a look at how Washington’s largest cities compare, from oldest to youngest. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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King County: The median age of King County residents is 37.1 years...

14. Auburn: 38.4 is the median age in this city. (Photo by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Digital Collections and Content/Flickr)
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14. Auburn: 38.4 is the median age in this city. (Photo by the...

13. Bellevue: 38.3 is the median age in this city. (Photo by armadilo60/Flickr)
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13. Bellevue: 38.3 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

12. Spokane Valley: 38.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by isforinsects/Flickr)
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12. Spokane Valley: 38.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

11. Vancouver: 38 is the median age in this city. (Photo by gbaku/Flickr)
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11. Vancouver: 38 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

10. Federal Way: 36.6 is the median age in this city. (Photo by joshua_putnam/Flickr)
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10. Federal Way: 36.6 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

9. Renton: 36.5 is the median age in this city. (Photo by ebis50/Flickr)
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9. Renton: 36.5 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

8. Tacoma: 36.2 is the median age in this city. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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8. Tacoma: 36.2 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

7. Everett: 35.9 is the median age in this city. (Photo by InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr)
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7. Everett: 35.9 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

6. (tie) Seattle: 35.8 is the median age in this city. (Photo by archer10/Flickr)
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6. (tie) Seattle: 35.8 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

5. (tie) Spokane: 35.8 is the median age in this city. (Photo by ClarkProductions2008/Flickr)
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5. (tie) Spokane: 35.8 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

4. Kent: 33.6 is the median age in this city. (Photo by Todd Stefan/Stefan Photography)
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4. Kent: 33.6 is the median age in this city. (Photo by Todd...

3. Yakima: 33.2 is the median age in this city. (Photo by Mark Iverson/Flickr)
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3. Yakima: 33.2 is the median age in this city. (Photo by Mark...

2. Bellingham: 31.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by kuroda/Flickr)
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2. Bellingham: 31.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by...

1. Kennewick: 30.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by one more dreamer/Flickr)
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1. Kennewick: 30.1 is the median age in this city. (Photo by one...

USA: Nationally, 85.9 percent of residents older than 25 have graduated from high school. Take a look at how Washington and the state’s biggest cities compare. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
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King County: 91.7 percent of county residents over 25 have obtained a high school degree. Take a look at how the state’s 14 largest cities compare, from most educated to least. (Photo by Merelymel13/Flickr)
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King County: 91.7 percent of county residents over 25 have obtained...

14. Bellevue: 94.7 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by rutlo/Flickr)
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14. Bellevue: 94.7 percent of the city’s residents have obtained...

13. Bellingham: 93.3 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by ocad123/Flickr)
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13. Bellingham: 93.3 percent of the city’s residents have...

12. Seattle: 92.3 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by SheldonPhotography/Flickr
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12. Seattle: 92.3 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

11. Spokane: 91.6 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by RPerro/Flickr)
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11. Spokane: 91.6 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

10. Spokane Valley: 91.4 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by rustejunk/Flickr)
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10. Spokane Valley: 91.4 percent of the city’s residents have...

9. Vancouver: 89.8 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by Loco Steve/Flickr)
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9. Vancouver: 89.8 percent of the city’s residents have obtained...

8. Federal Way: 89.1 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)
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8. Federal Way: 89.1 percent of the city’s residents have...

7. Everett: 88.3 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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7. Everett: 88.3 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

6. Tacoma: 87.8 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by kiszka king/Flickr)
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6. Tacoma: 87.8 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

5. Renton: 87.4 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by dherrera_96/Flickr)
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5. Renton: 87.4 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

4. Auburn: 87.2 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Digital Collections and Content/Flickr)
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4. Auburn: 87.2 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

3. Kennewick: 83.7 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by Wildernice/Flickr)
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3. Kennewick: 83.7 percent of the city’s residents have obtained...

2. Kent: 82.4 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by brewbooks/Flickr)
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2. Kent: 82.4 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a...

1. Yakima: 72.6 percent of the city’s residents have obtained a high school degree. (Photo by Atomic Taco/Flickr)
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